Speaking of School: Computer Science

[KickAssClown]

I am going to be showing this outline and a summary of the topics to professors at the University near by because our CSCI 3 (Community College) is supposed to be analogous to their CSCI 101 (CSU).

From the looks of it, our Intro to CSCI class is suppose to be the prerequist for Programming and Algorithms I, so I would venture to guess that it needs to prepare the student for that later class.

CSCI 101
Introduction to Computer Science
3 FS
Students who have had limited experience with computers should take CSCI 101 before CSCI 111. CSCI 101 provides an overview of the fundamentals of computer science. Number systems and data representation are introduced. An overview of hardware, including the control unit, memory, the ALU, I/O is provided. Software is introduced with an overview of operating systems, programming languages, applications, and software tools. Students are exposed to common operating systems and applications. Student also design and implement several programs.

CSCI 111
Programming and Algorithms I
3 FS
At least one year of high school algebra and strong computer skills or CSCI 101.
A first-semester object-oriented programming course, providing an overview of computer systems and an introduction to problem solving, object-oriented software design, and programming. Coverage includes the software life cycle, as well as algorithms and their role in software design. Students are expected to design, implement, and test a number of programs.

-Taken from the CSUC 2007-2009 Catalog

If you were to require your students to design and program a given project, what language would you teach them and what tools (like UML for instance) would you equip them with to perform the assigned task?

Thanks abunch,
-Ian

[alexander]

you need another class

you jump from the basics to hardcore programming, you need an intro to programming class

you want my thoughts on that class (as they are fairly radical, but better then what i've had and is shared by a few people i know )

[KickAssClown]

Sadly, the two have to be one class; luckily, the intro class only needs to touch on the topics that are going to be taught more in-depth in the programming class.

I would like to hear your thoughts on an intro to programming class; It is the programming stuff that I have the hardest time figuring what should be put in and what should be left out.

[alexander]

emmk, but you asked for it (just so we are clear)

So my idea of a programming class, is a class that is not centered on programming any one language, but rather a class that teaches how to think program. It's a skill one gains after about the first 4-5 languages, when one can pick up a book on a language and be coding in it in hours, needless to say, being profficient with any language in a few weeks. It's developing that same skill that allows you to read any code in any language, and even without knowing the exact syntax, point out obvious flaws.

So a programming class should do just that, teach students how to code in what they want to code in. So, you don't teach the class in C, or Basic or Python, you make students choose which language they want to use for their projects, and have them learn it, while you teach the class in pseudo code, making people understand the logic, while applying it to their particular language. If you are teaching datastructures, you perhaps want to first make sure that the languages being used, support OOP. Another thing for projects, language limitations may deny someone the ability to make code work, so for the times that someone can not complete the project in the language they choose, one, they get to submit the code they have written (at least till the point that their language does not support), pseudocode for the parts missing or the whole project, and an explanation (in the form of a writeup) thoroughly explaining why they could not do what was asked in their language. This way nobody chooses QBasic or Pascal or something, and misses the whole DS section of the class saying "Ooh, i can't do this in my language. Oooh, i didn't know we couldn't pick QBasic". I would require more work done by those students, then those who actually did the work.

And basically the class would be conducted as such, explanation of a topic (such as control structures) about 1/2 the class, independent reading to understand the topic in your language, about 1/4 of the class, and finally project, another about 1/4 of the class and HW if you did not complete it. Depending on interruptions or the topics this will vary, but basically that is it. Unless its a midterm or final exams, in which case, they will have 2 full class periods to complete the assigned project (which will vary for each person in class, so they can't copy off of each other even if they use the same language).

well this is about it, i think or rather hope that this fairly well explains the idea

[KickAssClown]

I like the idea, but I would hasten to add inter-language team projects. I would like to participate in the very kind of class you describe except that the point of the class would be to program only the parts of the project that your language is best suited to cover. You would communicate (needs applied method to encourage this) with other students on how their portions work and how to interface your language/project of choice with theirs.

What you discribe sounds like a technical linguistics class. Where one studies the structure of languages by applying and examining a language or multiple languages.

[KickAssClown]

I am amazed I have avoided searching this before, but I found on Wikiversity a page called "Introduction to Computer Science"

[alexander]

all praise the superior wiki god

[KickAssClown]

Following a rant last semester by myself to the lead Computer Science instruction about the Computer Science department, my instructor surprised me by putting together a course designed around the things I had ranted about. Seriously, that has never happened to me in a school ever before and I've been going to school for 17 years now

I got together with him this semester and we have begun working on what now looks like a two year program for !Game Studies! Additionally, This semester I have recruited 35 students and Instructors to the ranks of a club codenamed GAMES. We're looking at producing a Magazine.

Anyway, here's what I wanted to offer anyone and everyone here on Hypography. Our membership is inclusive. I read the paperwork and found out that the only restrictions to our membership is on our officers who have to be current students with a certain GPA, and unit load, but beyond that, we have free reign to define who our membership is and allow or restrict it as we see fit.

I would like to invite Hypography to join and participate in my community as I have here at Hypography. We're looking at putting together a full web presence (Web Page, Forum, Wiki, New Group, Myspace, Facebook, Youtube, and Second Life), so that members can participate virtually. If anyone is interested go ahead PM me. I'll add you to our official roster and keep you posted on Club Events. You can check out us for now at our unofficial Wiki


Thanks for many years now of great discussion,
-Ian